Once a storm hits your home, the “fun” is just beginning. Dealing with the insurance claim process and talking endlessly on the phone may seem a daunting experience. With all the paperwork and legal process, most homeowners are even unsure how to file a claim.
As the most exposed part of your home, your roof can receive a lot of damage during a storm. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, more than 90% of high-wind or hail storm claims payout is associated with roof cover. For this reason, insurance companies review roofing claims meticulously and expect you to provide sufficient documentation.
As daunting as dealing with an insurance claim is, we prepared the THREE most important things you can do when dealing with a claim:
Homeowners Tip 1: Get To Know What You Insurance Policy Covers
The most convenient way to know what your insurance policy covers is to call your insurance provider. Insurance companies have a different policy regarding storm roof damage claims. Some policies consider the age of your roof at the time it is damaged. These companies may cover the full repair cost or roof replacement if your roof is less than 10 years old.
However, if your roof is more than 10 years old at the time of the claim, you may only receive a reimbursement for the depreciated value of your roof. Depreciated value means the decreased value of the roof prior to the damage which the insurance companies take the age and wearing of your roof.
However, other insurance companies will cover the full cost of the repair or roof replacement regardless of the age of the damaged roof. Nevertheless, in many instances, your insurance provider will send a certified inspector to validate your claim.
Homeowners Tip 2: Provide Proper Documentation for Your Insurance Claim
For an even ‘smoother’ process of your claim, take a lot of “before” and after “photos” of your roof and the exterior of your home. Make it a habit to update photos of your house whenever you do repairs or maintenance done. Write a short but concise documentation of the repair as well as the estimates, invoices, and bills you paid. This will make your insurance much easier on you and your provider.
Homeowners Tip 3: Contact a Contractor With Insurance Claims Experience
Not to toot our own horn too much, but Horizon Roofing is very experienced in dealing with insurance claims and is one of the top preferred roofing companies for insurance repair in Georgia. We work with you and your provider, to cut down the amount of back and forth you the home owner need to take part in.
You need to get a well-rounded estimate from a professional roofing contractor (hopefully you call us!). Your insurance provider will typically need an estimate before it can begin to cover any repairs or replacement costs for your damaged roof. That being said, you might want to choose a roofing contractor that can communicate well with your insurance provider. This will save you a lot of time headache.
Your chosen roofing contractor should be able to guide you on filing your claims. Look for contractors with experience in providing accurate roof estimates to help you in filing your claim. Having this information can do a lot with the approval of your insurance claims. Some roofing contractors may hire Certified Public Adjusters to process your insurance claims on your behalf.
Most importantly, if you think that your roof received damaged from a storm do not hesitate to contact a roofing contractor to get it inspected. This may prevent further damage to your home that may otherwise cost you money.